“Falling asleep at the wheel is as preventable as collisions that are caused by speeding and drinking and driving,” state patrol Chief John Batiste said in a statement. “People need to take the necessary precautions to prevent sleepiness as a needless cause of deaths and injuries.”

The state patrol recommends specific steps to prevent drowsy driving and fall-asleep crashes:

Get a good night’s sleep before hitting the road.

Do not be too rushed to arrive at your destination. Many drivers try to maximize a holiday weekend by driving at night or without stopping for breaks.

Use the buddy system. Avoid driving alone for long distances. A buddy who remains awake for the journey can take a turn behind the wheel and help identify the warning signs of fatigue.

Take a break every 100 miles or two hours.

Take a nap. Find a safe place to take a 15- to 20-minute nap if you think you might fall asleep. Be cautious about excessive drowsiness after waking up.

Avoid alcohol and medications capable of causing drowsiness as a side effect.